Hoping to make Tailgate more enjoyable and inclusive, Duke Student Government hosted an open forum Monday night to gauge student input on potential changes to the event. Only five students attended the discussion.
Under the new rules, each group would be allowed to bring one car and University grills would be provided on a first-come, first-served basis to each group. Student groups would also determine the layout of the event by choosing their own spots in the Blue Zone's first lot.
DSG Executive Vice President Gregory Morrison, a junior, suggested that student groups be able to select their spots in advance online.
"People have been enjoying Tailgate all along, and people that haven't been going to Tailgate may consider going now," said sophomore Pete Schork, DSG vice president for athletics and campus services.
Student groups desiring to have a spot at the event would have to register. The registration process would be open to all official student groups--such as fraternities, sororities and selective living groups---as well as any group of students with at least 20 people.
All groups who register would have to agree to certain conditions, Schork said. Beer, for instance, could be brought to the event in cans but would have to be dispensed in plastic cups.
Although some attendees questioned the efficacy of such a policy, Schork said approximately 50 students mentioned beer cans as a safety concern in the DSG Tailgate survey sent to students in an e-mail June 8. Cans scattered across the parking lot could cut students' feet more easily, he added.
"I don't expect the transition to be instant," Schork said. "When people see recycling bins next to cars, I think they will catch on to it."
The new rules would require that a designated driver be present if a student group brings a car to the event. Duke University Police Department might conduct Breathalyzer tests at random to ensure against drunk driving.
Student groups would also be responsible for cleaning up their own areas. If groups fail to do so, they will lose their Tailgate privileges for subsequent occasions. Previously, student groups such as Reserve Officers' Training Corps would clean up the parking lot, Schork said.
"It's really not fair to have other students clean up the mess you make," he said.
Schork also said a "three strike" rule would be implemented-any group that incurs three violations would not be able to register together for the following Tailgate.
The changes result from preliminary discussions with administrators and the DSG Tailgate survey, Schork said. DSG will write a contract containing the new provisions and present it to administrators. Schork added that he expects administrators will sign the contract by the end of the week.
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